The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Bowling Green topped a list by news website The Daily Beast of the 754 best high schools in the United States.

And by all accounts, the distinction is a welcomed accolade born of hard work — not award chasing.

"It's a thrill to be a three-peat," said Julia Roberts, executive director.

Roberts has been with the Gatton Academy since its start in 2007 when it was lauded as a "beacon of excellence" by state and Western Kentucky University officials who wanted to challenge and inspire gifted students from across the state.

She said the school's supportive focus on students and its "economical" partnership with WKU that allows it to tap into campus resources such as professors and programming helps Gatton Academy stand out.

"It has exceeded any expectations that anyone could have," she said. "The research that they're doing is outstanding at any level, much less as juniors and seniors in high school."

The academy is part boarding school, part high school and part university. It selectively draws high school juniors and seniors from across Kentucky — admitting 20 percent of applicants from 113 of the state's 120 counties — with a passion for math and science.

Students take science, technology, engineering and math focused coursework taught by WKU professors in WKU classrooms along with traditional undergraduate students — all financially supported by the state.

Jane Clarenbach, director of public education for the National Association for Gifted Children, said one of the biggest benefits of schools like Gatton is their ability to offer access to advanced academics to students, regardless of financial means or hometown. As a newer statewide public school, she said, Gatton was able to learn from existing successful programs.

Ranking Gatton, which operates as a statewide school district, alongside schools with limited districts is clearly not comparing apples to apples, she said.

"That doesn't make the high school a bad high school or a less quality high school," she said. "It just means they've done what they can do for gifted students. It's not about comparing the two in my mind."

Seniors Josh Stewart and Kelly McKenna, both from Crestwood, said they chose Gatton because Advanced Placement and honors classes at their home high schools weren't challenging.

McKenna entered Gatton with an interest in math, but soon developed a passion for computer science. She plans to major in chemical engineering. Last year, Stewart conducted research in a WKU professor's lab and presented his findings at a national conference this summer. He plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon.

The two recently returned from taking an English course in England, which is one of the international experiences the school offers.

McKenna and Stewart said Gatton's national rankings don't put pressure on them because their focus isn't on rankings.

"Of course, we're not regular high school students, but at the same time we're just going through high school and doing our coursework," McKenna said.

"Most of us here feel like being number one is less of a goal we set to achieve," Stewart added. "It's more of a result of all the hard work we do. The rankings aren't always on our minds."

The national rankings will, however, help Stewart's college applications stand out from the rest, he said.

Lynette Breedlove, Gatton Academy director, joined the school in July. She said the award is an honor that comes with an unstated, undercurrent of pressure.

"It's important that that doesn't become our focus," Breedlove said, "that our decisions are always made on what our students' needs are."

Fourteen other states have a state-supported high school like Gatton, Roberts said.

"It's an economic development strategy to develop the talent we have in this state," she said.

Isaac Kresse graduated from Gatton this year and is now a freshman majoring in chemistry at Northeastern University in Boston.

He said he's not surprised by Gatton's national recognition.

"Some people would argue Gatton cherry picks the best students and puts them in one school," Kresse said. "I would argue it's much more than that."